Hundreds of tea garden workers in Assam's Dibrugarh staged a procession on the lanes of Mohanbari Tea Estate for equal rights on Sunday. Under the banner of Assam Chah Mazdoor Sangha, the women workers raised slogans for higher wages, improved working conditions, and proper recognition of their work in society.
On the occasion of International Women's Day, the procession reflected the strength and perseverance of women who toil daily in the field. Despite difficult conditions, they work all day to sustain one of India's most crucial industries, catering to millions of people every day.
A Protest For Better Life
Secretary of the women's wing of the Assam Mazdoor Sangha said that the women are the backbone. bone of Assam's tea industry. They wake up every everyday, toil in rain and sun. But their wages are still among the lowest in the country. "Today we march not just to celebrate womanhood, but to demand what is rightfully ours, dignity, fair wages, and a secure future for our children.”
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The workers expressed both pride and frustration. A veteran tea plucker said they had been picking tea leaves for decades, but their voices still remain unheard. "Today is our day to stand together and remind the world that without us, there is no tea,”Times of India quoted the worker as saying.
The association's Vice President, Nabin Keot, flagged the issues faced by women in the sector. They lack proper healthcare facilities, crèche services, housing, etc. He said that International Women's Day is a "reminder that the fight for gender equality is far from over, especially for our sisters in the tea gardens, who continue to face systemic neglect”.
The event ended with cultural performances by women workers, who sang and danced to traditional Jhumur folk tunes.